5 places
Chef Kazuhito Mabuchi’s Dallas Guide to Japanese Eats
The Namo chef shares the Dallas restaurants he turns to for karaage, okonomiyaki, A5 Wagyu, and more.
About the list
Nuri Steakhouse
Nuri serves Miyazaki A5 Wagyu, an outstanding beef from my hometown, Miyazaki Prefecture. It’s a steakhouse with an Asian touch that offers outstanding service and amazing food. It’s one of the most phenomenal restaurants in Dallas.
Mr. Max Izakaya Restaurant
My parents owned an izakaya like Mr. Max, so when I go there, I eat the comfort food I grew up on. Mr. Max has my favorite karaage selection in Dallas. The place is a comfort. It’s friendly and cozy.
Chinchikurin DFW
Chinchikurin has the best okonomiyaki [a thick, savory Japanese pancake] in DFW. It’s a franchise restaurant, and this is my favorite location. The okonomiyaki is Hiroshima-style, so the dough is thinner and the recipe includes egg noodles.
Cattleack Barbeque
The beef here is high-quality and includes Japanese breeds like Akaushi. I also love the pastrami brisket. Plus, the owner used to have a natural disaster clean-up company, so the place is immaculate.
Mike's Chicken
This isn’t a Japanese restaurant, but I do love karaage, and this is absolutely the best fried chicken in town. Simple and delicious. That’s often the hardest thing for a restaurant to pull off.
